Sweetwater Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
5.8 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
7.6
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
232.5 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.27
energy & soap waste
Source: USGS Water Quality Portal · Updated 2026
0–60
mg/L
Soft
61–120
mg/L
Moderately Hard
121–180
mg/L
Hard
180+
mg/L
Very Hard
Appliance Damage Report
In Sweetwater, your appliances are currently losing 13% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Sweetwater | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.3 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -26% |
| Washing Machine | 9.9 yrs | 12 yrs | -17% |
| Water Heater | 11.6 yrs | 15 yrs | -23% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Sweetwater compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Sweetwater, Florida | 99.5 mg/L | 5.7 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | groundwater |
| University Park, Florida | 262.5 mg/L | 10.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Tamiami, Florida | 114 mg/L | 6.1 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | groundwater |
| Fountainebleau, Florida | 314.5 mg/L | 12.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Olympia Heights, Florida | 111.5 mg/L | 6.1 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How Sweetwater compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Sweetwater | 99.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Sweetwater's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Sweetwater, Florida, in Miami-Dade County — a small city in western Miami-Dade adjacent to the Doral corridor, known as Little Managua for its historically large Nicaraguan-American community — receives its municipal water from Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD), which draws from the Biscayne Aquifer through the WASD wellfield system in western Miami-Dade County. The Biscayne Aquifer is the sole source aquifer for the entire Miami metropolitan area.
The moderately soft 99.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 232.5 mg/L reflect the Biscayne Aquifer's Pleistocene oolitic limestone character in the western Miami-Dade service zone. The Biscayne Aquifer is one of the most productive aquifers in the United States — a highly permeable, unconfined aquifer developed in the Pleistocene Miami Limestone (oolitic and bryozoan limestone), the Fort Thompson Formation (freshwater marl and calcareous clastic), and the Anastasia Formation. Western Miami-Dade's Biscayne Aquifer accesses the upper Pleistocene limestone at moderate depths, producing moderately hard water that reflects the oolitic limestone's calcium carbonate dissolution. The Miami WASD treatment includes lime softening and advanced treatment, moderating finished water hardness for the distribution system.
At 99.5 mg/L, Sweetwater's water is moderately soft — comfortable for household use. Scale forms slowly over months, soap lathers well, and appliances operate efficiently. Semi-annual descaling is adequate. The PFAS level of 5.7 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Miami metro's military and aviation installations (Homestead Air Reserve Base, Miami International Airport), the western Miami-Dade industrial zone (the Tamiami Trail industrial corridor), and the urban South Florida PFAS background all contribute to Sweetwater's reading.
Geology & Source: Sweetwater in Miami-Dade County is served by Miami-Dade Water and Sewer (WASD) treating the Biscayne Aquifer — the Biscayne Aquifer in western Miami-Dade accesses the Pleistocene Miami Limestone and Fort Thompson Formation (calcareous oolite and freshwater marl) — Pleistocene Miami oolitic limestone aquifer produces moderately soft water at 99.5 mg/L with TDS 233 mg/L in this Miami-Dade community.